Final answer:
Mandatory overtime in hospitals typically leads to decreased client safety as the most priority consequence, related to increased healthcare staff fatigue and potential errors.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a hospital unit experiences a high census for several weeks and mandates overtime routinely, the priority consequence is often decreased client safety. This is due to several interconnected factors, including increased fatigue among healthcare staff, which can lead to errors and diminished quality of care. Additionally, the stress from continual overtime can contribute to decreased job satisfaction and morale, which might impact patient care negatively. Healthcare professionals, especially nurses, are subject to government regulations that dictate their responsibilities and staffing levels to maintain patient safety. Excessive overtime might temporarily save on costs by not hiring additional staff, but it risks compromising the wellbeing and safety of both patients and staff in the long term.